On Being a Parent....

There is only piece of advice I'll willingly pass on to my children when it's time for them to have their own, is to love unconditionally; without flinching even when the police knock at the door with a warrant, when they fail exams, when they have chosen the wrong path or girlfriend or boyfriend, or even if they are messy and dishevelled or rude and impolite. Just love them and you'll be okay as a parent and they will turn out fine.

My Thoughts on a Loss... Luke J Matthews 18th July 1988-4th April 2009

From the dizzy depths of disbelief despair emerges, encompassing my very being. Youth lost, no taken - snatched from our lives never to witness or enjoy again. Wondering what he may have been like as a husband or father or brother or son will do no good. What is left are the memories of how he was till his leaving us....smiling, cheerful, fearless and with the senselessness of a beautiful twenty year old lad who lived each moment as his last.

Winter is upon us......well winter as we know it!

It's there one minute and gone the next...my hill...shrouded in misty fog. It rises like steam on the river as it ribbons it's way from our dam then floats away misteriously disappearing into the sun rise. As a child living in NSW mist signified bitter cold and wetness but here in sunny North Queensland you can feel the warmth radiating through the dense air. It wafts in ever so gently reminding you that today will be hot and this passing mist but a dream.

PRE WEDDING BELLS

A busy time at our house as we prepare for our eldest sons wedding to his sweetheart of seven years. He is 23 and she 22 and already they have an accumulation of life experiences. I have been up ladders cleaning where the sun don't shine and beyond! Re decorating and freshening up tired walls with a splash of colour and glitter. A very exciting time...I just hope the next wedding is a few years up the track as I may need that to recoup.

A Quote

"If living in too much space try the edge"

Andrew King (A twist on the version I use.)

When I first chose this signature a few of my friends were taken aback by it. "Not very kind Kerry" they said.

"Depends how you look at it" was my reply "I don't know about you but somedays just getting out of bed to face the day can be living on the edge."

There I rest my case.

Feast or Famine

It's either a feast or famine when it comes to weekends away. 'Feast' is on the menu these last weeks I'm glad to say. Some months ago I booked to do a workshop in Cairns with Tony Backhouse. Who's he I hear you ask? Well go check his site out and discover who the 'guru of a Capella singing is'. That's not what he calls himself....it is what I call him! I can cross off my bucket list the 'learn to sing' as I have found a voice and now I feel confident enough to join a choir or a Capella group which I have already made enquiries about.
Tony came to town about five years back and the Friday evening is an open event that anyone who is interested can join in. He had us singing like angels from the very moment we opened our mouths. It blew my mind away. I wanted more of that, so I done got me some, even if I have had to wait till now. I'd follow him into the desert in August to do the 'Walking Tour'. It is the new item on my bucket list. Have a look at his itenery and see where he's going. If he's heading your way DON'T MISS IT! I have uploaded a sample of what twenty eight people who had never sang together before sound like! Allowances please, for my music studio was my trusty mobile phone!

Rehearsing For Heaven
a cappella Singing Workshops
Black gospel & related styles
For the beginner & experienced singer (music reading NOT Required)
With
Tony Backhouse www.tonybackhouse.com.au
Director of award winning Sydney gospel choir
Café of the Gate of Salvation

A Weekend Away.

(Tim looking from Mt Inkerman look out, our first stop.
Never been here before either!)

Our oldest son and his fiance decided that 2009 would be the year of the wedding in our garden and so we decided that we wouldn't have a holiday this year...lots of work to be done and Mr Rudd's 'stimulation' didn't quite cover the costs of titivating and tidying but it did amply cover the expense of a weekend away or two. The idea was that one of us pick a place we've never been before and is only up to 4 or 5 hours drive away. It was my turn first seeing as it was my idea! Last year in Canada I wanted to do the Flying Fox tour at Whistler but due to my lack of determination I missed out. When I got home I Googled 'flying fox' and up came Finch Hatton near Mackay! Blimey...I went all the way to Canada to do something I could do in my own back yard. In the thirty years we have lived up here in the north we have never ventured off the highway. Always in too much of a hurry getting somewhere or going home. I thought he'd guess but he had no clue that what lay hidden behind the trail of the well beaten track was a beautiful mountain getaway. I have to say that all through our life together weather has always featured heavily in our holidays. Every time we packed the esky for a weekend away on the yacht clouds formed , even cyclones! So why should things change now? It wasn't too bad though...bearable ...good snuggling weather!


Our first night was The Chalet at Eungella. You 'can't' see it for the shrouds of fog. Surprises for no one! I find it exciting though. Something we don't see too often in Townsville and an excuse to light that fire.

Being out of touch with lighting a fire my hero came up with the idea of how to get the flames excited. All you need do is have a couple of rums and your breath sorts that! See his cheeks all billowed and the timber ignite! Don't try this at home kids!

I have to say that my well meaning friends and family have a lot to answer for as far as the success of the simple pleasures of a couple of oldies getting away for a 'naughty' weekend! We started our mini holiday with a cold schooner at the bar. We retreated to the cabin for a snort or two of rum and soda (medicinal purpose only , you understand, to warm us up and give us fortitude to brace the freezing weather and get back to the dinning room). At dinner we emptied a nice bottle of Merlot. It was quiet for a Friday so we were told. We didn't mind as we talked and talked and talked! YES TALKED!
All the better books say that talking is a foundation for foreplay. We'll be right tonight then!
First my sister rang for a chat. Then my girl friend Gail rang to see if we were having a good time! We joked about her timing. I then received a text which I answered. Tim had disappeared ...gone for a smoke I thought. 'Gee he's a long time'. Found him...snoring his head off snuggled up in bed! I have a laugh as only a thirty year bride could!

Before heading off we checked out the Ute competition that was part of festivities being held this weekend.

The second night was at The Broken River Retreat . It was modern and fresh looking by comparison to The Chalet. Quieter too and absolutely nothing to do but walk and talk (yes talk!) and view the platypus which neither of us had ever seen in the wild before. I would have swam with them but brrrrr a little too chilly for me. They are very hard to photograph. I did my best...patience ran out as well as the batteries in my camera!

Sharing a coffee break with one of the locals. Funny old turkey. Didn't say much! This was at the kiosk in the National Park. It was very impressive and made me wonder why our Mt Elliot isn't up to scratch like this?

Eungella National Park (pron: Youngella)

Who said you can't take a Monaro off road!

Or through water.....

Entering the black portals of the rain forest...

A fan dancing faerie?

A tree huggers delight.

Babbling Brookness

Tarzan Tim...King of The Rainforest.

Back into the light......


Chatting with the locals at Finch Hatton

Strapped up and ready for the flight!

Through the tops of the forest we go.

This was really worth it 'Finch Hatton Gorge Flying Fox'. If you do go take cotton gloves with you to wear under the leather ones they loan you or plastic throw aways. Other than the creepy smelly hands you are left with it is an awesome experience flapping around at tree top height with all manner of Gods wonderful critters. Donna and David have total dedication to preservation of the reservation! Above is David myself and Clare a fellow tourist. She was one of the short listed applicants for the 'Worlds Best Job'.

An ancient icon?



Bowenwood.... a modern one!

The mighty Burdekin Bridge

Home Sweet Home...

... Just in time to say Happy Mothers Day to Grandma and give her a handmade pressie from a local market in The Pioneer Valley.It's Tim's turn next and he reckons that it will be hard to beat. I was pleased that he enjoyed the adventure and believe it or not we have plans to return it was that good!